Monday, February 15, 2010

Last week, PS22 Chorus of 2010 joined forces with some other choirs across the world to help contribute to a video project to raise money for Haiti Relief. All the choirs did a great job as you can see in the final product shown above. If you'd like to find out more about how to support the project and help out the people of Haiti, visit zyOzy Foundation's website. If you'd like to make a donation now, you can visit this link. And if you'd like to hear the PS22 Chorus version of Amy Wolff's song "A Brighter Way" in its entirety (which features some amazing soloing by Isaac & Karinna), check it out on the audio player below.

UPDATE: As of February 19th, $5,035 has been raised from this project!! Kids, you should be so proud!!

From the Press Release:

CHOIRS COME TOGETHER IN A VIDEO TO SING "A BRIGHTER WAY" TO RAISE FUNDS FOR URGENT HAITI RELIEF

The zyOzy Foundation today announced the release of the Brighter Way Haiti Choir Project video across all social media outlets.

In January, Amy Carol Wolff, an Indiana University graduate student specializing in non-profit manangement, zyOzy collegiate advisory partner and song composer, issued a call to choirs in January to do an original video recording of her composition, "A Brighter Way," an inspirational, musical "call to action," which, as Wolff states, "is a powerful statement of rising up, serving and bringing hope to those who need it."

Wolff conceived the idea of a global choir initiative after family friends miraculously survived and escaped the deadly earthquake, which struck Haiti about a month ago. By a miracle they all were found alive.

Five choirs joined the movement, bringing hundreds of young people together for haiti. The choirs include Uganda Rural Fund Childrens' Choir, the Crescendo Chorus of Connecticut, the famed Voices of Eve 'n Angels -- the Voena Childrens' Choir of California, the Pacoima Singers of California, and the PS22 Chorus of Staten Island, NY.

With the help of Byron Campbell from Firelight media Group, all of the videos were put together to create a dynamic and inspiring media piece for the people of Haiti and those looking to continue to champion this country's recovery. You can vew the video on the Brighter Way haiti Choir Citizen Effect project page: http://citizeneffect.org/projects/brighterwaychoir_haitirelief , where they are accepting donations for CARE's Haiti Relief efforts on behalf of the project.

Wolff and the zyOzy Foundation team are looking to raise over $30,000 for CARE's relief effort in Haiti. "CARE has a long history of work in Haitiand their people are extremely focused on providing for basic needs," Dan Morrison, CEO of Citizen Effect, "they are committed to providing water, food and shelter for the people of Haiti."

For information on how to spread the word or contribute, visit the zyOzy website at http://zyozy.org or contact Wolff at amy@zyozy.org

WOW!! Amazing, both the 5-choir rendition...and then the PS 22 version. Just beautiful.

It seems, planned or not, that the Chorus turned towward social justice...with One Day, Pearls, and now A Brighter Way one after the other.

Great work kids. It's like you are beocing a new heart for the world...as you encounter so many of the emotional textures of life, you feeeeel more and so do those who hear you songs...I know I sure du.

Tori Amos

"They were so good! Their arrangements -- their sound -- it was so good.... It was...... disarming. It means so much that they took it and made it their own."-- Tori Amos after a private performance by the PS22 Chorusof her songs at the Sony Atrium in N.Y.C.

Common

"I feel honored to perform with PS22. The energy brought me up to a natural high on music and art, and just the spirits of you all. You all are so exciting to perform with..... I'm gonna remember this day forever."--hip hop legendCommonon performing with the PS22 Chorus at the National Tree Lighting 2009 for President Obama

David Cook

"Oh my God! It's ridiculous... It is incredible how good you guys are!!"-- David Cook, American Idol winner, after singing with PS22 Chorus!

Bonnie Hunt

Innocence Mission

"What a beautiful, beautiful, joyful version. It is a huge improvement on the original. The children brought tears to my eyes with their glorious singing and smiles. I so love the energy of this performance, the arrangement, the harmonies, everything."-- Karen PerisofThe Innocence Missionin apersonal message to the PS22 Chorusafter seeing the kids' video of the song "There" from their album, GLOW

Tribute WTC

Wikipedia

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IMPROVS

Improvising is a skill that really demands great natural musical ability, particularly to do it at 9 or 10 years old! All of the following songs were being created and recorded as you hear them here (with some minor post-editing). PS22 Chorus member JUSTIN, with occasional super-special guests including legendary PS22 Chorus Alumni CLIVE, DEON, BEN, ADIZA, KARIMA, BRI-AH, & AMANDA D., demonstrates the technique brilliantly.

Stevie Nicks

B.J. Novak

"My God! We watch you all the time at work, at The Office, all the actors, all the writers... You guys are amazing! I swear to you, you're an inspiration, keep it up!"-- B.J. Novak, star of The Office, raves about the PS22 Chorusat The Webby Awards!

Sinead O'Connor

"Most beautiful, joyous thing I seen apart from me own children ." -- Sinead O'Connorafter seeing the PS22 Chorus video of her song "Jackie!" PS22 was then invited to be the opening act for her concert at the Highline Ballroom in New York City.

Passion Pit

"These kids made the record what we had been dreaming it to be, as they are integral parts of three songs.... It felt so unbelievable to have the exact sound that I wanted coming through the headphones...."-- Michael Angelakosof Passion Pit on recording with the PS22 Chorus

Nancy Pelosi

"...You indeed, as you sing, 'rule the world!'"--Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosiafter hearing the chorus sing at the Capitol